Former EDL ringleader campaigning ‘against hate’

Stewart Carr

An ex-English Defence League activist from Luton has joined a campaign to encourage tolerance and understanding.

Darren Carroll is a relative of ex-EDL leader Tommy Robinson and was an active member himself for several years.

Now, he is part of the campaign ‘Open Your Eyes To Hate’ (OYETH) which has released an interactive film ‘CHOICES’ on its website.

Mr Carroll said: “I was feeling disenfranchised and not politically engaged at the time I joined the EDL, which leaves you open to persuasion.

“Over a period of time, you come to realise that you can’t reconcile what you believe with what’s going on around you.

“It’s a far right group. I’ve completely gone down another route now, I’m just concentrating on what I can do positively going forward.”

The film ‘CHOICES’ is available to view online and is being billed as the UK’s first interactive film to combat extremism.

An OYETH spokesman said: “‘CHOICES’ was created to reduce support for far-right organisations by highlighting their dishonesty and encouraging people to think critically about what they’re being told online and in social situations.”